DIAA Championship Action: Primetime Prospects

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 2025-26 season came to a crescendo with the Howard Wildcats beating the St. Georges Hawks 60-46. Despite the final point differential, the Hawks didn't lay down and the Wildcats didn't have things on cruise control. So here are the prospects who came to play: </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2759059"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69b742cd23536"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">When the Wildcats needed to apply pressure and crank up the pace, it was Abdurrafi who threw a wrench in the Hawks' offense. He raked the ball away at the point of attack and shot the gap for deflections, generating fastbreak offense for himself. And because Abdurrafi &amp; company effectively sped up the game, the defense wasn't able to get set and load up against them as often. The two-way junior guard racked up 14 points and 6 steals. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2352456"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69b742cd235b3"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The Wildcats started off slow, but Baysah gave the team a spark with his athleticism on-ball, defensively, and on the offensive glass. Next, he got them in-rhythm going into halftime by moving the defense with his dribble-drives and pinpoint passes. Baysah continued on with his disruptive defense, but, on offense, he took the game into his own hands. The shifty senior guard got north-and-south off the bounce, carving his way into the heart of the defense, then shooting over SG's rim protectors. In the end, Baysah secured the win for his team with 15 points, 5 rebounds, 8 assists, and 4 steals. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2461962"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69b742cd2360a"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Coates's quick hands and speed without the ball energized the Hawks when the game began. So with all the high flyers on the court, it was him who got a steal then raced down the floor for the first dunk of the game. Coates also got others going in transition with his outlet passes off of rebounds and turnovers. He tallied 9 points, 3 boards, and 2 steals. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2352458"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69b742cd2365d"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Despite knowing that they wouldn't win on the boards, they did neutralize some of SG's advantage thanks to Lane. While others were scrambling, he snuck into the paint for one rebound after another. The WilmingtonU pledge put a few points on the scoreboard as well, cashing a three and driving off the catch. And while Lane furthered his rebounding efforts in the fourth, he also knocked down a few free throws to finish with a 12-point double-double. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2352452"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69b742cd236af"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Obiora wasn't able to get many touches around the basket, but he forced the issue with his activity on both ends. The hyper-athletic forward hustled on the boards and in transition for a couple dunks. He also managed to limit points in the paint without having to block multiple blocks because he deferred deep drives with his reputation alone. But as the deficit widened, Obiora pressed the issue with a pick-and-pop three, a drive to the cup, and a middy to pace the Hawks with 16 points, 15 rebounds, and 2 stocks (1s 1b).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->